Today’s installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-Mass.) presidential operation is just starting to stake shape, but her Iowa team already includes some sought-after staffers. (The senator also had quite a bit to say about her candidacy on last night’s show.)
* In a bit of a surprise, former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) announced today that he won’t make a second run for the presidency in 2020, but in a Des Moines Register op-ed, he encourages Beto O’Rourke to get in the race.
* Confronted with allegations of sexual harassment and gender disparity on Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) 2016 campaign, the senator told CNN last night, “I certainly apologize to any woman who felt that she was not treated appropriately, and of course if I run, we will do better next time.” Asked if he was unaware of the allegations at the time, Sanders added, “Yes, I was little bit busy running around the country trying to make the case.”
* Though there’s been some chatter about a possible retirement, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) told Time magazine it’s her “intention” to seek a fourth term next year. The Maine Republican was originally elected after vowing to step down after two terms.
* Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D), who’s made no secret of his interest in the 2020 presidential race, wrote a new op-ed for the Washington Post that focused on narrowing the ambitions of his party’s progressive base: “I believe the only way that Trump will win reelection is if Democrats give up their credibility as serious and focused on results that impact people’s lives. Ideological populism or relentless negativity are playing on Trump’s turf. The reality-show star will always win that race to the bottom.” * In the ongoing controversy surrounding the election in North Carolina’s 9th congressional district, Mark Harris (R) will ask a state court tomorrow to certify his victory, despite ample evidence of widespread election fraud. * And on a related note, if North Carolina Republicans remove Harris from consideration, Robert Pittenger, whom Harris defeated in a GOP primary last year, said this week he won’t run again. Similarly, former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) doesn’t want the seat, though McCrory conceded he’s considering running for governor again in 2020 or for the U.S. Senate in 2022.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past." Recommended
